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Review: Spurcycle’s Original Bell is Crafted for Beauty & Function

Spurcycle Original Bell review on masi hero shotPhoto c. R. Frazelle
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Maybe this is a bold stance, but in my humble opinion, the Spurcycle Original Bell is the best bell on the market and truly the “blending of art and machine” (thanks for that, Jaguar Motors). It’s a simple part of your bicycle that is both elegant and purposeful, a real example of form and function sharing the same space.

And if you ride crowded trails, as I do, it’s a must-have part of your cockpit, it’s essential.

The Masi Incanto Dream Build

Back in October, when I was building the Masi Incanto Dream Build I reached out to Spurcycle for a bell that would be suitable for a “dream build”. The Spurcycle Orginal Bell was the only bell that I thought would be right for that build.

Spurcycle Original Bell review in box

One of the reasons they were the only bell company that I turned to, was that aesthetically it just made sense. Another is that I’ve currently got three of them on other bikes in my stable, with one of the bells being used for almost a decade. It’s been passed from bar to bar and still looks great and operates without issue.

The Original Bell was Easy to Mount

I love this bell and the way it mounts. Its design is clever and takes up very little real estate on your bars, being small and non-intrusive. It can be positioned any way you like to get a lower profile, the bell facing towards you or away from you, or you can rotate it to keep from interfering with handlebar bags.

It comes with two different sizes of stainless bands that allow you to fit the bell to a very large variety of bars, from diameters of 22.2 to 31.8mm with a simple 2.5mm hex tool.

The band attaches around the bar and back into the bottom of the bell in an ingenious way (as shown in the pictures). You slip one end of the band into the slot under the bell, loop it around your bar, turn the bell upside down and slip the other end of the band into the opposite slot.

It uses the stainless bands’ natural “memory” to keep the band in the bell while tightening the bell to the bars. Now, rotate the bell to the position of choice on the bar and tighten.

Spurcycle’s Original Bell in Use

When activating the lever on the Spurcycle Original Bell you hear a pleasantly thin and distinctive “ring” almost “chime” like. At times it doesn’t sound like it would be loud enough to alert people of my arrival, and then at times it sounds very loud. Even when it sounds its loudest, it still doesn’t sound grating, piercing, or annoying like some bells.

Spurcycle says their bells are “engineered for quality sound”, saying that their balls bells 🙂 ring 3x longer than others. I believe that, I timed mine and it rings for a full 8 seconds!

I use this bell on every one of my bikes, both in the past and presently (as shown in the pictures). And I’ve rolled up on hikers and other trail users who have complimented me on how pleasant the bell sounds, saying that “that’s a very natural sound” Or “thank you, that was pleasant”.

It cuts through most earbuds as well, which is sometimes surprising, as the bell sometimes sounds very soft. But, right when I release the lever and it sounds like it’ll be too soft, the person with the earbuds jammed in their noggin, quickly moves to the right for me to pass.

I find the Original Bell is a big part of a serene, successful, and drama-free ride on the crowded trails around my area.

Conclusion

As I mentioned earlier, on the trails where I mostly ride my bikes, be it paved or off-road, a bell is an absolute must. It beats yelling “LEFT” at trail users all day, not to mention, it’s much easier on the ears… for both of us, I think other non-biking trail users appreciate and prefer cyclists use a bell. And this bell is the most non-intrusive, most successful bell I’ve used on a trail.

The Spurcycle Original Bells aren’t cheap, but they are made in the USA, and Guaranteed for Life. The bell is serviceable and rebuildable, you can do that yourself with the available replacement parts, or you can reach out to Spurcycle for a “factory overhaul” to help your bell restore its original sparkle.

I’d give it a 14 out of 10, and would absolutely recommend you get one for your bike…it’s worth the price.

They have a few options to choose from when you visit the site.

Retail

The Original Bells come in the either pure raw metal finish (like the one in the review here), or black DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating. They also use an anodized hammer (unless where noted).

The Spurcycle Original Bell: $59 (Raw color)

The Spurcycle Original Bell: $69 (Black) with your choice of either a green button or orange button for the hammer.

The Spurcycle Compact Bell: $32 (Black with either a Pacific Blue, Really Red, or Safety Orange lever) *fixed sizes of either 22.2 or 31.8

Spurcycle Original Bell review frankenbell boxes
Photo c. Spurcycle Frankenbell boxes

The Spurcycle Original Frankenbell: $38 (in Raw or Black)
***These may be scratched, blemmed, or have coatings that aren’t perfect. Spurcycle donates 10% of all Frankenbell sales to a few different non-profit organizations like, Bend Bikes, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Adventure Cycling Association, The League of American Bicyclists, and Los Angeles County Bike Coalition.

Spurcycle.com

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21 Comments
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Russ Greway
Russ Greway
11 months ago

Great review and couldn’t agree more. Love this thing. I especially love when people thank me for using it. I use the Timber bell while mtb…like to keep both hands planted. Cheers.

Nick
Nick
11 months ago
Reply to  Russ Greway

Agreed on the Timber bell– I won’t use anything else because it keeps my hands on the controls AND I can run silent when I want too.

NotMeAtAll
NotMeAtAll
11 months ago

I’ve been using this beel for over a year, but from another brand, Rockbros. Pretty cool and rock solid! Even packaging is exactly the same!

WhateverBikes
11 months ago
Reply to  NotMeAtAll

That’s because RockBros is a brand that makes cheap clones of other brand’s products.

Huffagnolo SuperMagna
Huffagnolo SuperMagna
11 months ago
Reply to  NotMeAtAll

Why would you use knockoff products especially from a company that even knocked off their name from a well known well respected company? It is shameful that people are still doing this and openly proud of it. “I bought a stolen design from a company with a stolen name because who cares, look at me!!”

Spurcycle makes excellent bells and like the author I have multiple bells (I forgot the count but probably 5 or so at least) and would happily buy more and have no issues or qualms paying the money to the people who make the bell here in the U.S. and came up with the design. I don’t feel the need to give money to cheats and scoundrels for a knockoff (I hate using clone because it feels like it has original DNA which this doesn’t) to save a couple bucks.

If someone comes up with a good design I want to support them because likely it means they could have other good designs or at least want them to keep producing this one. If I was trying to be cheap I just wouldn’t buy one until I had the money. Saying “I like your design enough to give you the middle finger and buy from someone who took your design without permission” is pretty bad. I can understand it from a massive corporation who does evil things but Spurcycle makes cool bells and tools and doesn’t seem at all big or evil. In my experiences dealing with them they are quite nice and friendly and dedicated to cycling. People I would want to support. Is it an expensive bell, sure I guess but is it really bright, loud and with a good tone, unequivocally yes. Having rang a lot of bells over the years the Spurcycle probably is the most musical of all of them, it doesn’t sound flat or sharp like a lot of the ones I have tried and rings a long time. I liken it to the scene in Spinal Tap where Nigel is talking about the Les Paul “aaaaahhhhhhhh and then you go out to dinner with your mates and come back and it is still aaaaaaaaahhhhh”. I see no reason to not want that in a bell and not want to support the originators of that product.

Robin
Robin
11 months ago

It’s a great bell. I’ve been using the black version for about 5 years.

Joenomad
Joenomad
11 months ago

My Spurcycle bell is going on 5 years old. I use both verbal and bell to alert path users depending on situation. If you can hear music coming out of the path users ears, there is nothing beyond an airhorn that will get their attention.

WhateverBikes
11 months ago

So you have it on all your bikes, used them for years, yet you ‘reached out’ to them for one for this review.
Why not just write the review based on your experiences? This seems like you just wanted a free bell :-/

Huffagnolo SuperMagna
Huffagnolo SuperMagna
11 months ago
Reply to  WhateverBikes

Don’t we all just want a free Spurcycle bell? They are great bells and if you work at a cycling publication you might as well get as much stuff to review as possible. I mean yes you have to love journalism and bikes in some capacity to do it in the first place but getting to review cool products and sometimes keep them is one of the major perks of the job. : )

WhateverBikes
11 months ago

Yes, that’s a nice perk and I have no problem with that.
However, there’s a difference between receiving something for a review, the reviewer happening to like it and getting to keep the product, and asking for something for free that you already know and like, and could easily have reviewed without asking for the a one.

WhateverBikes
11 months ago
Reply to  Ron Frazelle

Thanks for your reaction, and fair enough. Like I said, I have no problem with reviewers having some perks, was just that in this case it made the review seem like an excuse to get the product. Cheers!

jonathan
jonathan
11 months ago

“Maybe this is a bold stance, but in my humble opinion, the Spurcycle Original Bell is the best bell on the market “

this is a pretty cold take in the cycling world.

John Power
John Power
11 months ago

It doesn’t or kin the rain!

Marcel
Marcel
11 months ago
Reply to  John Power

Yeah, I’m tired of the neverending rain too, so kin it!!!

BTW, I love the spurcycle bell.

Bart
Bart
11 months ago

I’ll take the Crane E NE for a fraction of the price instead.

Captainmorgan
Captainmorgan
11 months ago

Bought a knockoff, hated, bought a true spurcycle bell and its been great!

except on cavet, though not the bells fault.

9 times out of 10, adults will look at their phones when they hear the bell!!! Children do not, they look at their surroundings. cant tell how many times I’ve almost hit someone because they thought they got a notification!

blahblahblah
blahblahblah
11 months ago

crane bells are better

MTB Greg
11 months ago

A truly amazing bell, and my personal favourite!
If you’re in the United Kingdom we carry the full line up, and better than that we also carry the full range of service and repair parts to keep you ringing for years after your initial investment

Steve J.
Steve J.
7 months ago

I’ve had my bell in classic black since around 2016. since then she has been doing her work year after year without any problems, in any wind and weather, all year round. Would buy them again anytime.

Andy Turnbull
Andy Turnbull
6 months ago

“their balls ring 3x longer than others”

That might be the best typo of all time!

Ps love my spurcycle bell!

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